Should Welsh construction embrace the circular economy?
Emma Thomas, director of CEW, makes the case that thinking differently about we throw away is one simple step to adding millions to the Welsh property and construction sector
IF Welsh construction takes the tough decision to change its approach and embraces the concept of the circular economy then it might add net benefits to the sector of £1bn. We’ve made this argument before and spelled it out in the recent report: Closing the Circle. But where do you start? The first step is waste. Site waste to be specific. Construction is still, despite great work by our own CEW team and Welsh Government commitment to Towards Zero Waste, consuming around 80% of raw materials and generates 50% of the total waste in Wales. Still far too wasteful.
Now consider what is disposed of on site. It’s not what you think. 30% of all mixed site waste is food – the breakfasts, snacks and lunches fuelling Welsh construction workers – and office materials.
Our PAS 402 and the Green Compass Scheme has improved the waste management service and reduce Wales’ dependence on landfill. Both help meet the ambition of Environment Strategy One Wales: One Planet for no additional landfill by 2026. 80 waste management companies have been independently UKAS inspected, verifying the diversion of 2,081,566 tonnes of waste. Since 2009, Green Compass firms diverted an additional 148,358 tonnes of waste from landfill – saving more than £17m.
Good progress, but to achieve real savings requires a shift in mind set by clients, design teams, procurement professionals and changes on site. Targeting office and canteen waste is starting point.
CEW’s Enabling Zero Waste (EZW) team is regularly talking to contractors of all sizes to help minimise waste and construction sites regularly highlight site office and canteen waste as an issue. Typically, it is bagged up, deposited in skips and ultimately landfilled. It is almost proof of the requirement to think differently and change behaviours throughout the supply chain.
The EZW team is looking at ways to do exactly that. The first step is to remind site workers that the rules on site are the same as at home, where food and household recycling is segregated; so why not manage the waste in the same manner? What’s more, by segregating waste you will be future proofing your organisation ahead of regulations within the Environment Act (Wales 2015) that enforce it.
We have been working with local authorities to pilot collections from construction sites in Torfaen and Ceredigion. Our aim is to set up collections of site office and canteen waste in each local authority area right across the construction industry. Successful pilots with Willmott Dixon and Torfaen County Borough Council (three primary schools), WRW and Ceredigion (Aberystwyth Fire Station), as well as Angle Primary in Pembrokeshire and the Exemplar project M-Sparc in Anglesey, all point to good results.
We want to get better data, but we already know waste has been diverted from landfill, the number of mixed waste collections has gone down and the separation of food waste has lowered the weight of the skips – reducing the gate fees charged by landfills.
This summer EZW is working with Cardiff Council to open out the kerbside municipal refuse service – no access to site is required with our trials – starting with the 800 homes Tirion Group development at The Mill, not far from Victoria Park in Cardiff, being built for them by Lovell.
Changing behaviours, on site and at home, is not easy, but it is worth doing. It moves Wales closer to hitting environmental targets. It benefits all of us. Segregation of waste minimises the risk of landfill, helps reduce the ecological footprint of all waste – especially food. The ideal option is to use food waste as feedstock for anaerobic digestion. This generates much better environmental returns such as the manufacture biopolymers and fertiliser.
Most importantly, this subtle change in behaviours to deal with what is one third of construction waste across Wales is a perfect example of the circular economy in action. Thinking differently works. It saves money.
If you want to help us improve the Welsh environment and create a positive legacy for future generations by taking part in site waste management schemes or any of the CEW initiatives then get in touch: call us on 029 2049 3322 or go to www.cewales.org.uk